Gretzkys Difficulties in Scoring Goals against Good Defenses after the Mid 1980s

[The Panther]

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Conversely:

1981 -- 164 points
1989 -- 168 points
1991 -- 163 points

1981 -- 36 ES goals (3rd NHL)
1991 -- 33 ES goals (4th NHL)

1982 -- 120 assists
1987 -- 121 assists
1991 -- 122 assists

1983 -- 20.4% shooting
1988 -- 19.0% shooting
1991 -- 19.3% shooting

As we all know, Gretzky's prime ended overnight in September 1991, after which he was never close to the same. Nevertheless:
1980 -- 1st in assists
1981 -- 1st in assists
1997 -- 1st in assists
1998 -- 1st in assists

Also:
1980 (calendar year) -- 1st of North American players
1998 (calendar year) -- 1st of North American players

 

[The Panther]

Those arguing that peak-Gretzky couldn't match Mario in mid-1990s (?) scoring would need to explain this:

Gretzky aged 30 to 36 in the playoffs (1990s):
70GP: 33G + 65A = 98 PTS / 1.40 PPG (+10)
Lemieux aged 27 to 35 in the playoffs (1990s + 2001):
58GP: 32G + 43A = 75 PTS / 1.20 PPG (+1)

This is Gretzky for up to six years after his prime ended, playing on fairly average teams, with unimpressive teammates. And yet in the playoffs (up to 1997) he outscored Lemieux per game quite handily. And Lemieux was in his prime and on very talented, high-scoring teams.

 

[authentic]

85 to 92View attachment 994435

Man I really wish that Suter hit never happened.

 

[authentic]

Those arguing that peak-Gretzky couldn't match Mario in mid-1990s (?) scoring would need to explain this:

Gretzky aged 30 to 36 in the playoffs (1990s):
70GP: 33G + 65A = 98 PTS / 1.40 PPG (+10)
Lemieux aged 27 to 35 in the playoffs (1990s + 2001):
58GP: 32G + 43A = 75 PTS / 1.20 PPG (+1)

This is Gretzky for up to six years after his prime ended, playing on fairly average teams, with unimpressive teammates. And yet in the playoffs (up to 1997) he outscored Lemieux per game quite handily. And Lemieux was in his prime and on very talented, high-scoring teams.

This is actually incredible btw. I know you mentioned it before but this makes me want to go back and watch some of their playoff games in their later career now. I wonder what are some good ones available online?

 

[authentic]

Also does anyone have playoff goals per game averages by season in the 80s and 90s and early 2000s?